Highland Pony

Highland Pony Snapshot

Highland Pony Picture Gallery

Highland Pony Description

The Highland
Pony is the largest of all Britain's native pony breeds.
It is a versatile, authentic animal that dates back
hundreds of years. They are primarily workhorses, and
are also used for trekking, driving, endurance riding
and other recreational purposes. There are two types
of the Highland Pony; the Western Isles Pony and the
Mainland Pony. The Western Isles Pony is more active
than the Mainland. The Highland is known for their easygoing
temperament and native intellect. When the Highland
is crossed with a Thoroughbred, it produces a moderately
sized, intelligent riding animal with excellent endurance.
They are great family companions. They have an excellent
personality and are good jumpers. They are very capable
of carrying very heavy loads over long distances and
heavy terrain. Because they are uncomfortable being
stabled, the Highland Pony lives outside year round,
no matter what the weather is. It is probably the most
common pony in Scotland, while being rare in the United
States. Their bodies are stocky, although the Western
Isles pony is more refined. They can appear in several
shades of dun, ranging from very light cream to red-brown.
It can also appear in bay, black and gray. In the summer,
their coat is sleek, while in the winter it is wooly.
For the most part, their mane, legs, and tail are very
dark. Most Highland Ponies have primitive marks such
as stripes along the shoulder and "zebra"
stripes on the legs.